English idiom

swings and roundabouts

Register · Informal CEFR C1

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Figurative meaning

a situation where advantages and disadvantages balance out (British)

Why this phrase?

From a fairground saying about losing on one ride and gaining on another; means gains and losses even out.

Example

“Working from home is swings and roundabouts — less travel, but less company.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

at the end of the day

ultimately; when everything is considered

blow off steam

to release pent-up energy or emotion through some activity

cut loose

to abandon restraint and behave freely or wildly

drive someone up the wall

to make someone feel extremely annoyed or frustrated

get on someone's nerves

to repeatedly irritate or annoy someone

go bananas

to become wildly excited, angry, or otherwise out of control

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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